Let, the number of students at Nick's school on last year be x.
Given, 98% of x is the number of students in this year.
Also given, there are 1170 students in the school this year.
First we will find 98% of x.
98% of x =
=
![(98x)/(100)](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/bntucwpzrisepspzhbvs2g781pqd86dnxq.png)
So, we can write the equation as,
![(98x)/(100) = 1170](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/w3nb8mytegj1e7n9s7zzclx2d612v4fr23.png)
To solve it for x, first we will move 100 to the other side by multiplying 100 to both sides, we will get,
![((98x)/(100)) (100)= (1170)(100)](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/dfqisfyvw73zf037aneum4gzw3qgu3d962.png)
![98x = (1170)(100)](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/b4gyco1e72obqexsnlythx3ig7fhczsdxm.png)
![98x = 117000](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/269gjom8ot3ix197papl9lv4vmkn52g4hy.png)
To get x, we will move 98 to the right side by dividing it to both sides. We will get,
![(98x)/(98) =(117000)/(98)](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/xbuvrlywi6hfcrfo43sec54mso43uahbkt.png)
![x =(117000)/(98)](https://img.qammunity.org/2019/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/rtdncbpyrf40ie0xmxlmdc4iotvrmis5s7.png)
(Approximately taken to the nearest whole number)
We have got the required answer.
The number of students were there in the school last year is 1,194.